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Brian

Jun 29, 2010, 8:39 AM

Post #1 of 10 (4323 views)

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Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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It depends upon whom you ask. I just saw this and, in all honesty, it
probably pertains to me and many of us on this list and other related
message boards. This quote from journalist Elijah Wald sums up the
rule that underlies the drug killings and related violence in the
country:

”No one who will talk to you knows the truth, and no one who knows the
truth will talk to you.”

DavidHF

Jun 29, 2010, 9:20 AM

Post #2 of 10 (4290 views)

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Re: [Brian] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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I doubt anyone on this or other boards knows "the truth." There was an excellent article on the cartels and related violence in The New Yorkers a couple of weeks back that provides a lot of insight.

Gringal

Jun 29, 2010, 9:43 AM

Post #3 of 10 (4272 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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We may not know "the truth", but we seldom do, in any country including the U.S. We would be appalled if we did, since it would turn our early history and civic lessons to nada.

Now, about Mexico. Let's line up a few "known" factors and see if we can draw a conclusion that may not be "the truth", but may keep many of us from letting our minds fly about like an insect in a glass jar, to wit:

There are powerful, well armed and wealthy drug cartels in Mexico.

There are powerful, well armed persons in the U.S. receiving the drugs and distributing them.

In both cases, bribes are alive and well, aimed at whatever forces allow the drug kingpins to stay in business.

There are forces in Mexican politics who favor one cartel over others, and hope for its victory.

The police and military forces in Mexico are not paid enough to support their families decently. They are, therefore, open to corruption.

Now, who's on first? Follow the money. The End.

Will we see peace in our time? Doubtful. Should we scurry back North where we are "safer"? Also doubtful, unless we are ruled by our fears. If we are, then the only path that makes sense is to sell out if we own anything, head for the border and settle in a non-urban community where the worst crime in teenagers' pranks. Such places do exist.
We have but one life to live, and living in fear sounds like the worst way to do it.

Altahabana

Jun 29, 2010, 11:35 AM

Post #4 of 10 (4217 views)

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Re: [Brian] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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I think Elijah Wald is talking about the difficulty investigative journalists have in cultivating sources and obtaining detailed information for use in writing in-depth, analytic stories about the cartels and narco-trafficking in Mexico.

Hound Dog

Jun 29, 2010, 11:43 AM

Post #5 of 10 (4213 views)

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Re: [Gringal] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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The police and military forces in Mexico are not paid enough to support their families decently. They are, therefore, open to corruption.

The police and military forces in Mexico are corrupt at the administrative level, and, thus, at the street level. Completely and functionally corrupt without exception. On the other hand, the U.S. government is completely corrupted as well. As is the European Uniion. We are, after all, human beings. Let´s keep pouring precious dollars into the criminal gangs in Kabul and to support bureaucrats in Brussels and Washington, DC and Albany so we can subsidize the moral pollution of our dysfunctional cities. Makes you proud to be a human being.

(This post was edited by Hound Dog on Jun 29, 2010, 11:45 AM)

Peter

Jun 29, 2010, 12:06 PM

Post #6 of 10 (4200 views)

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Re: [Brian] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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Knowing what is going on and being able or willing to name names are two different matters. Watching futbol on TV or being a player on the field provides two distinctly different perspectives on the game, but at half-time everyone knows how it stands - and it really doesn't matter whether or not you know the names of all the players.

If you think the Drug War is being fought to protect you, Joe Citizen, then I suspect you don't know much about the game. If you think there is something more to it than that then I would say you are on to the "truth" and whether or not you are interested in the score at least you have an idea why the game is so popular.

DavidHF

Jun 29, 2010, 2:43 PM

Post #7 of 10 (4152 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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Which is why I pointed to the piece in The New Yorker. Someone did it.

ncferret

Jun 29, 2010, 4:55 PM

Post #8 of 10 (4093 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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Does it matter with articles like this on the front page of AOL:

http://news.travel.aol.com/...honeymoon-locations/

Wow. And sad to say, but mostly true, at least here in Mazatlan. Three cops killed in 3 days. A shooting last night in front of a popular club in the "Golden Zone" (the famous tourist area) AND a kidnapping/murder in the same tourist area. The violence is totally out of control.

Edited to create live link.

(This post was edited by esperanza on Jun 29, 2010, 6:52 PM)

Altahabana

Jun 30, 2010, 5:26 AM

Post #9 of 10 (3979 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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In Reply To

Which is why I pointed to the piece in The New Yorker. Someone did it.

I think that is the article by William Finnegan titled "Silver or Lead". There is more of an effort being made by investigative reporters to name the players in different places and trace the origins of the ongoing problems. But getting information in manner investigative reporters traditionally get it is difficult and dangerous, both for writers and their sources. That is what the quoted comment was addressing in my opinion.

I agree with Brian that alot of people know which organizations are behind the events occurring where they live and work and are certainly aware of how those events directly and indirectly affect them. To me it's obvious that many ex-pats and visitors have no idea how much cartel activities affect local residents and the extent of the exposure (mostly involuntary) many Mexicanos have to those activities.

Rolly

Jun 30, 2010, 9:05 AM

Post #10 of 10 (3898 views)

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Re: [Altahabana] Just how bad are things in Mexico right now?

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Here is the article. It's a PDF file and is a bit hard to read.

Rolly Pirate